Brittany Ferries Ceases Live Animal Transport Operations

Brittany Ferries stopped transporting live farm animals, including unweaned calves, from 1 September. The decision marks a development in efforts by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to end long-distance live animal transport and ensure animal welfare legislation is enforced, as reported by MarineLink/Maritime Reporter.

The move follows concerns regarding the welfare of unweaned calves on lengthy sea journeys between Ireland and France, preceding their onward road journeys across Europe. Over 160,000 calves under six weeks old have been transported this year from Ireland to countries including Poland, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Operator Withdrawals

Brittany Ferries' decision means two ferry operators have ceased involvement in this trade within a year. Stena Line withdrew its Ireland to France service in October 2025, and Brittany Ferries confirmed its cessation of farmed animal transport from 1 September 2026. Ethical Farming Ireland noted that Irish Ferries is now the sole remaining ferry operator transporting unweaned calves from Ireland to France.

Caroline Rowley of Ethical Farming Ireland stated that thousands of unweaned calves experience suffering and that welfare legislation is breached during these sea journeys. The organisation welcomed the decisions by the two private companies to no longer be involved. Ethical Farming Ireland has called on Irish Ferries to cease carrying calves and urged the Irish Government and the EU Commission to enforce EU legislation, citing breaches during journeys from Ireland to France on roll-on roll-off ferries.

Regulatory Concerns and Alternatives

A 2025 EU Commission report acknowledged that these journeys represent a welfare failure, specifically stating that “calves are not fed at the required intervals.” This follows a 2023 Commission audit, which concluded that “the transport of unweaned calves from Ireland to France is being carried out in breach of Council Regulation 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport.”

The future of the trade faces increasing uncertainty. In the Netherlands, a primary destination for Irish calves, the veal industry's welfare action plan has pledged to cease importing calves from Ireland by 2028. This aligns with a 2023 Parliamentary Motion that noted: “...that long-distance transport of very young calves is accompanied by serious animal suffering.”

Viable alternatives proposed include domestic rearing and finishing systems, the development of higher-value markets for dairy-beef animals, and the expansion of existing dairy calf to beef programmes. Currently, approximately 10% of dairy calves are exported, while over 25% of dairy farmers are retaining and rearing their male calves for beef. Ms Rowley commented that there was “no reason why we can’t keep them all” and advocated for high-welfare dairy systems where calves remain with their mothers until weaned.

More than 75,000 individuals have reportedly contacted Irish Ferries through a Compassion in World Farming campaign, urging them to end their involvement in live animal exports.